Mala Hemnani, ACC (ICF)

Well before developing a facilitation session, ask how is this facilitation really going to help address the issue and achieve the objective. In fact, is it a facilitation session that is needed or a discussion? Is it a skills and ability issue or it is something else? Often there is a disconnect between what the goal or problem is and confirming a particular training, and then there is failure. How are the participants going to apply immediately what they have learnt in the session, on the job? Being more specific, looking at exactly what the objective of the learning is and how it will help solve the problem, before we develop and design a session is key to making it successful.

People hear in your voice what you don't say, or are hiding with your words. As I work with people to develop the elements of voice, I start early on them being inspired, empowered and self-believing. Voice does not lie, and it works best when there is harmony between the skills of tone, pitch, pace, modulation, inflection, fluency, breath power, and a inner confidence, passion, interest, purpose. Bringing these two together, through tools and techniques, reflection and awareness, people are able to well manage, build their strategies on what works best for them, and apply it is relevant situations. When they experience the merit of their own doing, that is motivation then for them.

Be it sharing an idea, making a proposal, so simply voicing an ask, if what you say lacks confidence the chances of your idea or ask being accepted are low. Through your voice elements, your stance and fluency of words one gets to know about your inner state - what you really feel and think about what you are saying. So look at intent and what this means to you. How much do you believe in what you are conveying. Your awareness and clarity brings on power - that comes through in your tone, pitch, gestures, eye contact, and flow of language. There is a natural passion that emerges and is felt by the listener. That brings on confident speaking, and gets others to have confidence in you

The coaching journey helps us gain heightened awareness of where and how our strengths show up and how they meet organisational goals, making it clear on the areas that need improvement. Through reflection, awareness, accountability, assessment and the setting and outcomes of timely goals, there is a deeper understanding of what one needs in order to have improved productivity, and overall leadership skills, resulting in heightened employee engagement, motivated teams and personal credibility.

Ethos, logos and pathos - ethics and credibility, reason and logic, and emotion or passion. Bring together your 'why,' the 'for what', and 'why you' so that you have purpose, aim, and passion. As you become clear on what are you speaking for, what do you hope to achieve, and why this resonates with you, you will bring the emotion naturally into your delivery. Your voice with enunciate, emphasise, and modulate in line with your feeling. This will stir your audience. People don't listen as much to your words as to your feelings. Don't hold yourself back from showing them.

Connect with the audience. As you speak, build a rapport. Keep a pulse on the audience, on their reactions, expressions, nods, frowns, distraction, and level of engagement, and adapt or adjust to keep their attention. Look for the non-verbal cues. Be aware of when might be losing them and work to bring them back. There is no leadership if there is not follower-ship. A leadership position is not enough for leadership success. Speak authentically, passionately and with conviction to each person so that each one in the audience feels that you are specifically speaking for them, to them.